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| http://straightstitchsociety.com/manifesto/ |
I’m going to hang this one in my sewing room whenever I figure out where to hang it for optimum effect, i.e. laughter to relieve "rippit" stress! Might even do some embellishments on it. We will see.
Monday, May 28, 2012
I’M A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE STRAIGHT STITCH SOCIETY
While doing a little internet research about my Singer Featherweight bobbin case area problems, I ran across this cute “manifesto” that I want to share with you.
It’s located HERE on the Straight Stitch Society web page if you would like to get your own copy.
I’m going to hang this one in my sewing room whenever I figure out where to hang it for optimum effect, i.e. laughter to relieve "rippit" stress! Might even do some embellishments on it. We will see.
I’m going to hang this one in my sewing room whenever I figure out where to hang it for optimum effect, i.e. laughter to relieve "rippit" stress! Might even do some embellishments on it. We will see.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED
A Memorial Day honor for my granddad who served in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific theater.
SALUTE!
SALUTE!
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| Photo courtesy of thegraphicsfairy.com |
Thursday, May 24, 2012
NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM FOUNDATION PAPER PIECING
This block just finished on Tuesday is Row 2-8 of the Civil War Diary Quilt is called “Union Soldiers”.
Because of its title, I chose to use colors found in Union soldiers’ uniforms, blue and gold/yellow.
My shoulder is giving me fits now since I’ve done so much foundation paper piecing in the last week.
There’s a lot of trimming with a rotary cutter as you go along so I’ll give it a break for now. I have a couple of hand-piecing blocks ready to make for the Just Takes 2 quilt and a couple of quilt tops – the Civil War Block of the Week quilt and the Friendship Triangle quilt –that need to be sandwiched and readied for quilting on my domestic machine.
Pin basting always gives me a different kind of pain -- in my lower back – but if I do it in short blocks of time with frequent breaks there is usually no lingering problem. It’s a totally different problem with my neck and shoulder. About 12 years ago I had surgery to remove an meningioma (cyst) near my cervical spine so there is significant scar tissue that easily flares up if strained. Just need to take some Aleve and give it a rest for a couple or three days. And change the rotary cutter blade so I don't have to press to hard to get a clean cut. Why do we wait too long to change our blades? That's crazy!
Here’s to taking a break. I think I’ll watch the Texas Rangers play the Seattle Mariners. That’s an excellent break activity.
Because of its title, I chose to use colors found in Union soldiers’ uniforms, blue and gold/yellow.
My shoulder is giving me fits now since I’ve done so much foundation paper piecing in the last week.
There’s a lot of trimming with a rotary cutter as you go along so I’ll give it a break for now. I have a couple of hand-piecing blocks ready to make for the Just Takes 2 quilt and a couple of quilt tops – the Civil War Block of the Week quilt and the Friendship Triangle quilt –that need to be sandwiched and readied for quilting on my domestic machine.
Pin basting always gives me a different kind of pain -- in my lower back – but if I do it in short blocks of time with frequent breaks there is usually no lingering problem. It’s a totally different problem with my neck and shoulder. About 12 years ago I had surgery to remove an meningioma (cyst) near my cervical spine so there is significant scar tissue that easily flares up if strained. Just need to take some Aleve and give it a rest for a couple or three days. And change the rotary cutter blade so I don't have to press to hard to get a clean cut. Why do we wait too long to change our blades? That's crazy!
Here’s to taking a break. I think I’ll watch the Texas Rangers play the Seattle Mariners. That’s an excellent break activity.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
Just a quick note to brag about our newest family member, Emma Lee born May 22, 2012 weighting 7 lbs. 2 oz. and at 19 1/2” long.
Congratulations to the happy parents, Kayce and Josh, and almost as happy grandmother, my sis.
Let the baby Olympics begin. Events include crying, eating, wetting and pooping, staying awake, lots of hugging and kissing.
Congratulations to the happy parents, Kayce and Josh, and almost as happy grandmother, my sis.
Let the baby Olympics begin. Events include crying, eating, wetting and pooping, staying awake, lots of hugging and kissing.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
MORE JUST TAKE TWO BLOCKS COMPLETED
Block #36 Sun Ray on top and Block #27 with no name but I’ll just call it Oak Leaf Medallion. Please do not examine my applique block closely. Now that I’ve said that, you most assuredly will.
My placement on one of the curly cues is too close to a leaf. My center diamonds are not well centered. I used Sulky 15 wt. thread on top to machine applique and it’s too fuzzy. Etc., etc., etc. But it’s done. Complete. On to the next one. Many lessons learned.
The next block is the applique from the May 15 batch, block #38 and the Pieced block #37 – Old Italian Block. I love the Old Italian block and want to make a whole quilt using it but with rotary cutting dimensions, not paper-piecing. I can whip that up on EQ5 fairly easily I think. Here’s the next group finished.
I took the coward’s way out and made a paper-pieced 15” block (bottom left above) to take the place of the feathered star block. I’m pretty happy with the results. I found this pattern called “Odd Star” on the Quilter’s Cache web page. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of block patterns in various sizes, methods, and variety. Give them a look-see if you’ve never visited before. It’s all free!
Can’t remember if I posted about the blocks on the right side yet. I called the top one The Ink Blot. Once again, machine appliqued but I used a regular 50 wt. thread and was happier with the result. Also machine appliqued the little tear drops on the Honeycomb block.
I'm anxiously awaiting to hear about the arrival of my grand-niece today. The one whose baby quilt I made last month. You can see it HERE. The quilt, not the baby . . . yet.
Until next time, keep those sewing machines humming.
My placement on one of the curly cues is too close to a leaf. My center diamonds are not well centered. I used Sulky 15 wt. thread on top to machine applique and it’s too fuzzy. Etc., etc., etc. But it’s done. Complete. On to the next one. Many lessons learned.
The next block is the applique from the May 15 batch, block #38 and the Pieced block #37 – Old Italian Block. I love the Old Italian block and want to make a whole quilt using it but with rotary cutting dimensions, not paper-piecing. I can whip that up on EQ5 fairly easily I think. Here’s the next group finished.
I took the coward’s way out and made a paper-pieced 15” block (bottom left above) to take the place of the feathered star block. I’m pretty happy with the results. I found this pattern called “Odd Star” on the Quilter’s Cache web page. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of block patterns in various sizes, methods, and variety. Give them a look-see if you’ve never visited before. It’s all free!
Can’t remember if I posted about the blocks on the right side yet. I called the top one The Ink Blot. Once again, machine appliqued but I used a regular 50 wt. thread and was happier with the result. Also machine appliqued the little tear drops on the Honeycomb block.
I'm anxiously awaiting to hear about the arrival of my grand-niece today. The one whose baby quilt I made last month. You can see it HERE. The quilt, not the baby . . . yet.
Until next time, keep those sewing machines humming.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SWEETIE!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
PAPER PIECING ON ANOTHER PROJECT
It has been a little over one year since I made my last Civil War Diary Quilt block. I did not realize it had been so long ago.
When The Civil War Anniversary Quilt book by Rosemary Youngs arrived it spurred me to check back on the CWD quilt blocks. Much to my amazement I only had 27 of the 121 blocks completed. There are many more paper-piecing templates for CWD blocks printed up from the separate CD and in a notebook ready to choose fabric and sew.
So here is CWD Quilt block #28 – Harassment [Row 2-6]
I LOVE this one. Just 5” finished square. Little blocks are so darn cute. Something I did on this block seems to help me out with the construction. The Just Takes 2 blocks give pre-cutting measurements for the paper pieces. This seems to keep me from coming up short and is much more organized. I decided to measure the various components of this block, then added lots extra to the measurements to pre-cut the pieces. It worked like a charm by keeping me on the right track much better than just random placement and cutting.
Now I’m formulating a plan – maybe combine some of the CWD Quilt blocks with the new CW Anniversary Quilt blocks. They would play well together if I continue to use my 19th Century reproduction fabrics. Yep. That sounds like a good idea!
If the Dear Jane blocks I’ve made thus far (approximately 35 or 40) were the same size, I’d throw them in the mix too.
Just thinking . . .
Don't forget to visit The Quilting Gallery to vote on my Wind Earth Fire Water quilt entry entitled "Monterrey Memories." The winner will be announced on Monday morning. Those hand-dyed fabrics need to come to my house to play!
When The Civil War Anniversary Quilt book by Rosemary Youngs arrived it spurred me to check back on the CWD quilt blocks. Much to my amazement I only had 27 of the 121 blocks completed. There are many more paper-piecing templates for CWD blocks printed up from the separate CD and in a notebook ready to choose fabric and sew.
So here is CWD Quilt block #28 – Harassment [Row 2-6]
I LOVE this one. Just 5” finished square. Little blocks are so darn cute. Something I did on this block seems to help me out with the construction. The Just Takes 2 blocks give pre-cutting measurements for the paper pieces. This seems to keep me from coming up short and is much more organized. I decided to measure the various components of this block, then added lots extra to the measurements to pre-cut the pieces. It worked like a charm by keeping me on the right track much better than just random placement and cutting.
Now I’m formulating a plan – maybe combine some of the CWD Quilt blocks with the new CW Anniversary Quilt blocks. They would play well together if I continue to use my 19th Century reproduction fabrics. Yep. That sounds like a good idea!
If the Dear Jane blocks I’ve made thus far (approximately 35 or 40) were the same size, I’d throw them in the mix too.
Just thinking . . .
Don't forget to visit The Quilting Gallery to vote on my Wind Earth Fire Water quilt entry entitled "Monterrey Memories." The winner will be announced on Monday morning. Those hand-dyed fabrics need to come to my house to play!
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